Samuel Franklin Harris, a Republican from Unionville, is running for the Union County Board of Commissioners in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Three seats are open, and voters will choose up to three candidates.
Harris filed his candidacy on Dec. 1, 2025, according to a Union County Board of Elections candidate list. He is one of four candidates certified for the ballot: Brian W. Helms and Melissa Merrell are also running as Republicans, and Christina Dupont is running as a Democrat, according to BallotReady election data.
Candidate information
- Name: Samuel Franklin Harris
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Unionville, North Carolina
- Hometown: Monroe, North Carolina, according to his campaign's Facebook page
- Education: Bachelor of science in horticultural science with minors in agricultural business management and biological science, North Carolina State University, according to his campaign website
- Occupation: Plant pest specialist, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Plant Protection Section, according to his campaign website
Harris describes himself as a fourth-generation Union County resident who attended Piedmont High School, according to his campaign website.
Experience and public service
Harris said on his campaign website that he has served with the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services for approximately eight years, responding to agricultural pest concerns, developing mitigation strategies, and inspecting and certifying agricultural commodities for export.
He said he ran for the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors in 2022 and was the top vote-getter in that election. Harris said he serves as supervisor and treasurer on that board.
In 2023, Harris said, his board launched the Union County Farmland Easement Purchase Program to preserve farmland, forestland and open space. He said the program placed 394 acres into conservation in under two years.
Harris also said he operates a small produce farm where he grows blueberries, muscadine grapes, squash and peaches, and has sold at the Union County Farmers Market in Monroe on Saturday mornings.
On the issues
Harris outlined his policy priorities on his campaign issues page.
Residential growth: Harris said he will vote to stop high-density residential growth in unincorporated parts of Union County. He said he would continue to develop, support and implement the Union County Rural Land Use Plan to strengthen unincorporated and mostly rural areas.
Economic development and governance: Harris said he aims to keep Union County a great place to live and work by supporting job creation through business and agribusiness growth, supporting low-density housing, maintaining transparency of government funds and spending, and providing what he called common-sense leadership.
The Waxhaws Dispatch did not receive a response to its candidate questionnaire from Harris. This profile is based on publicly available campaign materials and official election records.
